Bleachwave
The Website of Charlie Thomason
Current Objectives
- Secure full-time employment as a front-end web developer, web designer, or content manangement specialist with a corporation, institution, non-profit, agency, start-up, or other.
- Pursue freelance and temporary employment, especially WordPress theme design and small business websites.
- Create and sell professional two-dimensional artworks as original canvas prints, original framed prints, and Society6.com fine art prints, T-shirts, iPhone/iPad cases, and other products.
- Continue to sell my first self-published photography book, Open Range: From Monument Valley to the Mojave Desert via Blurb.com; and begin pre-production on my second book (a book of photography, paintings, and drawings).
- Maintain a respectful reputation within the Chicago web development and tech start-up communities.
Skills
- PRODUCTION: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Final Cut Studio
- DEVELOPMENT: HTML5, CSS3, Responsive Layouts, Ruby on Rails, JS/JQuery, XML, WordPress, Drupal
- MARKETING: Blog Writing, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, FourSquare, iTunes/iTunes U
- OTHER: Git/GitHub, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google Analytics & AdWords, Content Management, Podcasting, Videography, Basecamp, User-Interface Design (UI), Test-Driven Development
Education
- Masters of Arts in New Media Studies
- DePaul University
- Chicago, Illinois
- May 2010
- GPA: 3.83/4.0
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Studio
- University of Kentucky
- Lexington, Kentucky
- December 2007
- GPA: 3.64/4.0 (Magna Cum Laude)
- 12-week Web Development Program
- Code Academy
- Chicago, Illinois
- March 2012
- Class of Winter 2012
Professional Experience
- ConnectFood, Chicago, Illinois
Freelance Front-End Web Developer
July 2012 - present- Responsibilities: Front-end development for ConnectFood.com, a social, online information community for those involved in the Illinois food industry; Working with HTML5, CSS3, Responsive design, JS/JQuery, FreeMarker-based SaaS platform. Also provided SEO, social media, and Analytics consulting.
- Relevant work: connectfood.com, connectfood.tumblr.com
- Supervisor: Chris Metz (Co-Founder)
- The Plum Tree Group, Chicago, Illinois
Internet Marketing Specialist & Freelance Web Developer
Oct. 2011 – Jan. 2012- Responsibilities: Online marketing strategy and account planning for small businesses; email and social media marketing; blog writing and content production; internal marketing and branding; web design/development for internal website/blog and HTML/CSS email templates; video recording and editing for internal marketing initiatives.
- Relevant work: plumtreegroup.net, plumtreegroup.net/blog, warmyourfloor.com, warmyourfloor.com/blog
- Supervisor: Daniel Townsend (Founding Partner)
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Digital Project Assistant, University Communications
Sep. 2010 – Oct. 2011- Responsibilities: Content management and development for the University’s News website (Drupal); managed University’s Apple iTunes U project, conducted training, site design and development; helped develop the University’s social media directory and training documents.
- Relevant work: news.uchicago.edu, itunes.uchicago.edu, hub.uchicago.edu/directory, connect.uchicago.edu
- Supervisor: John Eckroth (Manager, Digital Communications)
- Imagination Publishing, Chicago, Illinois
Web Analytics and Social Media Specialist
June 2009 – July 2010- Responsibilities: Social media campaign planning and execution; weekly blogging for a public library advocacy campaign; weekly analytics tracking and reporting; HTML, CSS and Flash development; podcast production and editing; SEO-oriented copyediting.
- Clients: American Library Association, Fortune 50 consumer baked goods company, Wells Fargo and Company
- Supervisor: Andrea Scott (Vice President, Talent)
- Jell Creative, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
WordPress Developer and Photo Editor
Jan. 2009 – June 2009- Responsibilities: WordPress development; graphic design and Flash development; photo editing and copyediting for a hardcover printed book, Sounds of Chicago’s Lakefront: A Celebration of the Grant Park Music Festival.
- Clients: TheWeekBehind.com, Chicago Park District, Grant Park Music Festival, Chicago Wilderness Magazine
- Supervisor: Joe Grossmann (Creative Director & Founder)
- Ow MyEye Productions, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
Production Assistant
Aug. 2008 – Jan. 2009
- Responsibilities: Developed a complete marketing campaign, including a website and social media presence, for the independent documentary feature film, What’s the Matter with Kansas? (based on the New York Times bestselling book by Thomas Frank).
- Relevant work: whatsthematterwithkansas.com, IMDb listing, Wikipedia page
- Supervisor: Joseph Winston (President)
Publications
- Charlie Thomason, Open Range: From Monument Valley to the Mojave Desert (Self-Published: Blurb.com, December 2011), 149p.
- Charlie Thomason, Long Strange Trip: New documentary tells story of Hunter S. Thompson (Lexington, KY: Ace Weekly, August 21, 2008), Cover Story, p.7
- Charlie Thomason, Gus Van Sant's 'Milk' (Lexington, KY: Ace Weekly, October 2008), p.10
Connect
Email Charlie at:
thomason.charlie [at] gmail [dot] com